USDA Announces Voting Period for Continuance Referendum for National Peanut Research and Promotion Program

For the first time, eligible peanut producers can opt to vote electronically or by paper ballot.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has published a notice in the Federal Register announcing a referendum among eligible producers of peanuts to determine whether they favor continuance of the Peanut Promotion, Research and Information Order (Order), which authorizes the National Peanut Board.

The referendum will be conducted from April 15 through May 3, 2019. USDA will provide the option for
electronic balloting. Further details will be stated in the official ballot
instructions, which will be sent by regular U. S. mail to all eligible peanut
producers. Voters must return ballots postmarked by May 3, 2019. Ballots
returned via express mail or electronic means must show proof of delivery by no
later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on May 3, 2019.

To be eligible to vote in this continuance referendum, persons
must have produced peanuts and been subject to assessments during the representative
period from June 1, 2017 through May 31, 2018.

Under the Commodity Promotion, Research and Information Act
of 1996 (Act), the U.S. Department of Agriculture must conduct a referendum
every five years or when 10 percent or more of the eligible peanut producers
petition the Secretary of Agriculture to hold a referendum to determine if
persons subject to assessment favor continuance of the Order. The Department of
Agriculture would continue the Order if continuance is approved by a simple
majority of the producers voting in the referendum.

Jeanette Palmer and Heather Pichelman, PED, SCP, AMS, USDA,
Stop 0244, Room 1406-S, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C.
20250-0244, are designated as the referendum agents to conduct this
referendum. The referendum agents will distribute
the ballots and voting instructions by
U. S. mail or through electronic means to all known producers prior to the
first day of the voting period. Persons who produced peanuts and were subject
to assessments during the representative period are eligible to vote.

Any eligible producer who does not receive a ballot should contact the referendum agent as soon as possible.